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(Model.) s sheets-sheet 2. J. OBRIEN. ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Patented Dec. 25,188.3.

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IIIIIIIII II ,.b.mo. IIIIM" i .Attorneys (Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. OBRIEN.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

Patented Dec. 25, 1883;

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JOSEPH OBRIEN, vOF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

ARTIFICIAL LEG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,915, dated December 25, 1583.`

Application filed September 17, 1883. (Model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, J. OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Legs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.`

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a side view of my articial leg; Fig. 2, a vertical central sectional view from front to rear of the leg. Fig. Sis avertical lateral section of the leg. Fig. 4. is a bottom view of the foot. Fig.'5 is a top View of the foot. Fig. 6 is a lateral sectional view of the toe-section. Fig. 7 is a side view of the central section of the foot. Fig. 8 shows the plat-es and pin between the toe-sections. Figs. 9 and 10 are horizontal sections near the knee-cap. Figs. l1, 12, and 13 are detail views.V Figs. 14, 15, and 16 are details at the knee-cap, and Fig. 17 is a detail view of the hinged arms connecting the knee and lower leg.

This invent-ion has relation to artificial legs; and it` consists in the construction and novel arrangement of devices, as will be hereinafter fully described,and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

The objects of this invention are to produce an artificial leg that will be capablegvhen worn, of assuming very nearly theflexions of the natural leg at the `knee-joint, the ankle-joint, and the ball-sections of the toe-joints; also, of automatically stopping the knee iieXion to bear the weight ofthe body of the wearer, and even an additional weight, while the artificial knee is in the bended position assumed in taking the steps while walking.

To properly use the leg the wearer will need some little instructions at first. rllhe disciplined soldier throws the weight of the body on the fore part of the foot and leans forward in marching.` At the first step the weight of the body is'transferred to the heel of the advanced foot and the knee of the rear leg bends in making the step. To bring ther-car leg natural' step. The ankle has also a laterallyswinging movement and a hinged vertical movement at the joint, and the toe-sections are elevated at the points while the foot is at rest, and will bend similarly to the natural foot when the heel is raised, thereby enabling the wearer after alittle practice to make a nearly natural step in walking.

Referring` by letter to the accompanying drawings, a designates the foot, which is made in two transverse sections-viz., the body-section c and the toe-section c2. These sections are made, respectively, in three horizontal vertical sections-viz., the middle sections, b 7)', andthe outer sections, b b3 and b* b5. The middle section b has a curved recess, c, in a portion of its under face near its forward end for the reception of a flat spring or springs, c2, connected to themiddle-toesection b. The outer foot-body section, b4, which is on the side of the foot in alignment with the little toe, isA

also recessed in its under face for a portion of its width for a similar purpose. The greattoe section has no spring. rlhe front edges of the three body sections of the foot a are curved out rearwardly, as at d, to receive the rounded rear ends of the toe-sections. The little-toe section is recessed in its inner face, near the rear end, for the reception of a wear-plate, d', which is depressed below its upper edge, and has a perforation, d2, for' the reception of a dowel-pin, d3, projecting from the adjoining` wear-plate d* of the middle-toe section. Y The middle-toe section has a similar wear-plate, (F, and dowel-pin on its opposite face, and the great-toe section has a wear-plate`, d5, similar to the wear-plate d on the little-toe section. The middle-toe section is bored entirely through axially of the wear-plates, and the bore is metal-lined. The little-toe and greattoe sections are bored partially through axially of their wear-plates, and metal-lined. Bearing-plates of flat metal, e, are secured to IOO each side of the middle section of the body portion of the foot, and extend forward and downward from the instep-plate c. These plates e are perforated near their forward ends to align with the bores of the toe-sections, and a rod, c2, is passed through the bore of the middle-toe section into the bore of the littletoe section, which is secured to the middletoe section by a screw, e, and the great-toe section is then slipped to place on the rod c2, and a screw, et, connects it with the middletoe section. At the commencement of the curves of the toe-sections at their lower portions shoulders f are provided, to limit the downward movement of the toe-sections at their juncture with body-sections of the foot. A sole-plate, f, having a transverse rearwardly and upwardly inclined flange, f 2, cngages the lower edges of the body-sections of the foot, and is secured in place by screws, and forms a bearing for the springs of the toesections, which return the toe-sections to their normal position after they have been bent in using the foot. The spring is omitted from the great-toe section to permititto be slipped to place. The instep-plate g is secured to the middle section, which is cut away angularly at its upper rear portion from about the instepjoint downwardly and rearwardly. The plate g covers the vertical rear edge ofthe cut-away portion, and extends forward on each side thereof to near its front edge at its lower portion, and clear to and along the curve of the instep at its upper portion. An integral arm, g, exten ds fronithe instep-plate g rearwardly over the heel portion ofthe middle section b of the foot portion. This middle heel portion has a depression or recess, g2, in its upper face, which is preferably metal-faced to prevent wear of the parts at this point. The upper portion of the instep-plate is provided with a centrally-perforated concave scat g3, through which the shank of a ball-head screw, g, passes into the wood of the middle body-section of the foot, as shown in the drawings. A wire-rimmed metal counter, 72 having adownwardly-projecting rear arm, /,at its rear end, is secured to the rearedge and side portions of the middle heel portion of the foot, the wires of the rim portion of the counter eX- tending into perforations in the rear edge portion of the instep-plate. The front and rear central or vertical middle portions of the shin and calf of the leg are made of sassafras wood, the pieces z' and i being properly curved to impart symmetry of outline. The pieces or standards t' i are secured to nearly oval-shaped wood connecting-plates i2 and i by metal edge-bands i", which also prevent the wooden plates from splitting, as I use very light wood for these plates. The lower end of the shinstrip z' is kerfed vertically and laterally for a short distance for the reception of the tangs 115 of two half-sockets, 7e k,which incase the ballhead of the screw g4, and form the ball-andsocket joint for the ankle, the tangs being secured in placeI by the lower metal band and screws.

Instead of the two tangs 'i5 entering thekerf in the shin-strip,one only may enter the shinstrip, and the other, which is bent midway at right angles to the first one,may be secured to the under face of the lower wooden plate by screws, that portion of the wooden shin-strip below the lower wooden plate in the former instance being cut away flush with the wood plate 2in this instance, and a bolt, k2, and nut being used to secure thev tangs together. The lower end of the wooden calf-strip iis curved inwardly, is reduced in size near its lower end in its width, and is metal-faced at k3 to prevent wear. The metal facing extends around and below its point, and secures a leather tip, 7a4, in place to prevent rattling at this point.

4To the upper end of the wooden calf-strip, which curves inwardly over the hollow lower leg, is secured a hollow metal box, Z, to which the upper or knee portion of the leg is pivoted.

Springs Z5 Z5 extend downwardly from the under side of the lower wooden plate, i2, to'which they are secured by metal plates, and enter the metal counter to control the lateral articulation of the ankle-joint. The metal counter is provided with an internal friction-roller, Z, in front of the lower end of the wooden calf-strip and in rear of the lower end of a laterallyperforated wooden push-rod, Z2, having its lower end metal-faced, its-middle perforated portions metal-faced, and provided at its top with a metal rod, m61, which passes through vertical perforations Z3 ZL in the bottom and top walls of the hollow rectangular box Z. The push-rod ZZ rests in the depression or recess gl in the heel portion of the middle section of the foot, and passes up through the lower wooden plate, i2, thence through a recess, m, in a metal plate, m', secured to the lower coil of a spiral spring, m, thence through a recess, ma, in the upper wooden plate, i, where it connects with the metal rod m", before described.

Below the metal plate on a transverse pin, m, is passed through one of the lateral perforations m in the push-rod Z2, to form a seat for the plate m, and cause it to be carried up to compress the spiral spring m2 when the weight of the body is thrown upon the heel of the artiiicial leg. The metal plate m is provided with two recesses, u n--one near each side-to receive the shouldered tenons n, at the lower ends of two metal strips, n2 u2. The tenons n are perforated beneath the plate m, and are connected by a transverse bolt, n. The metal strips n2 a are perforated at their upper ends, and are passed through two recesses, a* a", in the upper wooden plate, The wooden plate i3 is provided on its upper face with a friction-roller, n, against which the edges of the metal strips a2 n bear. A rod,

IOO

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o, is passed through either pair of perforations in the upper ends of the metal strips n2 1f, above the upper wood plate, i, and sleeves o o are slipped on the projecting ends of this rod o, and short metal arms o2 o2 are slipped upon the rod outside of the sleeves, and se- An ankle-shield,

cured in place by nuts o3 o3.

p, of buckskin, is secured to the exposed edges of the lower wooden plate, 2, by plates and screws, encircles the rear edge of the metal counter, and is secured at its lower edges along the lower edges of the metal counter by plates and screws.

The hollow metal box Z has side walls, with rounded edges q at front and lower portions. and near their lower rounded corners t-hey are provided with short laterally-projecting headed studs q' q. The top wall of the hollow metal box Z is slightly depressed between the side walls. 'i rlhe upper ends of the calfstrip enters the hollow metal box Z from the rear and below, and is secured in place by screws passed through the lower wall, side walls, and rear wall. The seat for the pivotrod r of the knee-sections is also made laterally through the metal box Z, near its front upper corner. A projecting stop-plate, r', for the knee-capfis hooked into a recess, r2, in the top plate or wall, r3, ofthe metal box Z, so that its front edge may be elevated by the metal rod on the push-rod Z2, without detaching the stop-plate from its recessed seat. The mid- `@die section, s, of the knee-joint is also made of wsassafras wood,which is light, but very strong.

It curves downwardly and inwardly, and isnotched laterally at s to receive the point of the stop-plate r when the weight of the body has been shifted to the fore part of the foot and the wearer has assumed a sitting position without bearing on the heel portion When A the weight is borne upon the heel portion of the foot, the punch-rod Z2 compresses the spiral spring, and the metal rod lifts the front edge of the stop-plate above the transverse notch s and causes it to meet the projection s, which locks the knee-cap and sustains the weight while the wearer is making the step with the natural leg. The middle section of the knee is provided with metal plates s, covering its sides. These plates s are perforated for the securing-screws, and have perforated .hook arms s4 and slotssi for engaging the laterallyprojecting headed studs on the sides of the metal box Z while the knee is being operated. The side sections, t t', of the knee are recessed on their inner. faces, near their lower ends, as at t2, and are metalfaced at their wearing-points. Theyrare pivoted near the corners of the angular recesses t* to the upper ends of the pivoted metal arms o2 02. The section t of the knee is perforated for the main pivot, and-the section t is also perforated for the same, and provided with a threaded nut for the reception of the main pivot, which, when in place, does not protrude from the perforations in the outer knee-sections, and does notturn in the nut when the knee is operated.

The socket u is of oak-tanned leather, and is secured to the knee-sections by steel strips and screws. The lower leg portion is covered with light sole-leather, and is secured to the calfstrip at the back. The socket is provided with 4ter and lateral regulating-springs, in combinatongueless buckles and unperforated straps,

`in order that it may be accurately adjusted to the stump. The straps are of buckskiirbuckled to the waist-belt c. The rear straps, t 'v'fu v', pass from the back ofthe socket, over the shoulders, and down to the waistbelt. The two front straps pass from the front of the socket to the waist-belt.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an artificial leg, the combination, with the middle-toe section having the perforated wear-plates carrying dowel-pins on its opposite faces at the ball-section of the foot, and having a metal-lined axial bore through it, and the weanplates of the great and little toe sections having depressed wear-plates on the inner faces opposite the wear-plates of the middle-toe section7 the axial rod and securingscrew for holding the toe-sections together, and the flat metal bearing-plates extending from the footsection to the axial rod between the wear-plates, the springs connected to the middle and little toe sections working in recesses between the foot section and soleplate, substantially as specified.

2. In an artificial leg, the lower leg-section having the wooden connecting-plates, recessed as shown, and bound with metal, the recessed metal plate secured to the lower `coil of a spiral spring resting against the upper wooden connecting-plate, the perforated metal arms having shouldered tenons on their lower ends' passing through recesses in the metal plate, se cured therein by a coiinecting-bclt, and having bearings on a rod above-the upper connecting-plate, the perforated push-rod, with the adjusting cross-bolt beneath the recessed metal plate, and metal rod on top for operating the hinged stop-plate against the middle section of the hinge knee-section, connected by pivoted arms to the transverse rod above the upper wooden connecting-plate, substantially as specified.

3. In an artificial leg, a vertically and laterally articulating foot secured to the leg by a ball-and-socket joint, and having a metal coun- IOO IIO

I 1 5 tion with a push-rod and aspiral springbetween a stationary and a movable plate, said pushrod having a metal rod at its upper end for operating a hinged stop-plate in the knee-cap by pressure upon the heel of the foot to lock the knee-cap at the half-turn' of the knee, to sustain the weight of the wearer in this position while making a step, substantially as specified. v

4. In an artificial leg, a foot having a toesection that will bend upwardly, and a knee portion having a hinged central section having a transverse notch in its inner curved face below a locking projection on the same face, and hook-stops on its metal face-plates to engage headed studs on the sides of a metal box at the upper end of the calf-strip, whereby a sitting posture maybe assumed without opercounter secured to the middle foot-section und ating the push-rod or stop-plate, substantially provided with a friction-roller, in combination as Specified. with the calf-strip carrying the metal facing 5. In an artiieial leg, the ankle-shield of and the leather tip at its reduced end, substzm- I5 5 buekskin secured to the exposed edge of the tially as specified.

lower Wooden connecting plate, extending In testimony whereof I affix my Signature in around the rear of the metal counter, and sepresence of two Witnesses. eured along the lower edges of the metal cou u- JOSEPH OBRIEN. ter between middle and outer foot-sections, Xlfitnesses:

1o substantially as speeied. Jol-1N M. ABRAHAM,

G. In an artieiul leg7 :L removable lmetal IIIRAM UNDERWOOD. 

